Our Mission

Friday, October 10, 2014

Positively, Disruptively Happy!

a blog by Jane S. Anderson, a former Glenbard Parent

In our culture, we believe that hard work and sacrifice lead to happiness. But
according to the latest science from Positive Psychology, we may have that
backwards. In her blog Positively, Disruptively Happy! Jane S Anderson,
former Glenbard West parent, explores the research. She provides proven tools
and principles useful for everyone who influences how people think, act, and
live – leaders, managers, parents, school teachers, social workers, students,
coaches, health professionals – and shows how these tools offer pathways to
flourishing in key life domains like work, relationships, and well-being

Thursday, October 9, 2014

PARENT EDUCATION CONSORTIUM (PEC) RELEASES LATEST CALENDAR

Next GPS event, Amanda Ripley - an Editor's Choice

Check out the PEC Calendar for programming of interest to
parent throughout Chicago.

"The Parent Education Consortium of the North Shore (PEC) is a centralized source of information on parent resources and programs that promote stronger schools, family and community life in the Chicago area. PEC is comprised of representatives from the community and parent/teacher organizations who offer programming on parenting topics through joint planning and shared resources. The Calendar of educational programs for parents and educators is compiled from submissions provided by the sponsoring organizations."

The PEC website, www.peccalendar.org, is a relational database -- you
can search by date, speaker, topic, venue, etc.

PEC'S Editor's Choice:

"Those of you who eagerly read
Amanda Ripley's bestseller The Smartest Kids in the World now have
a chance to hear her at Glenbard East High School in Lombard on Oct.
14 at 7pm. "(Our next GPS event)

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Rise of the Two Dimensional Parent

The following article by Dr. Ron Taffel, a past GPS speaker and author
of "Breaking Through to Teens" was based on information supplied by the Glenbard
Students for Students Club. Learn about the needs of 21st century teens, the
importance of secure parental attachment, and how to best achieve it. From Dr. Taffel: "While the article is about children and teens, it begins
with a brief status summary of kids' mental health, about which there is reason
for concern. I then identify 21st century pressures adults face as we try to
effectively raise, teach and work with children from the earliest years on. The
goal is to challenge ourselves as professionals and parents to become more
courageous, authoritative and loving with our kids. As I describe in the
article there are many ways this "three-dimensional
presence," as I call it, is undermined in our culture. Seeing how
this happens, as well as learning some solutions, will hopefully lead to greater
dialogue about what is increasingly needed by 21st century children of all
ages."

By Ron Taffel

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Although this event is sponsored by West Nation (formerly Gen Ellyn Youth Center
Board). All District 87 community members are welcome!

West Nation is a Glenbard West
school community collaboration of staff, students and parents. West Nation
empowers student involvement and connections to promote healthy decision making
in our students to set a positive course through high school and beyond.
Parents are offered education and opportunities for involvement to support
student activities and events during the school year. West Nation is proud to
partner in that mission with CARES (the high school equivalent of PTO/PTA, which
organizes events for students, parents and staff, such as the Post Prom Party,
Staff Appreciation Dinner, and Valentines for Vets etc.), Glenbard Parent
Series (GPS), which brings incredible education to parents and faculty via
speakers and invited guests, and Boosters (which raises funds for
academic, athletic and co-curricular activities at West). We like to
think of West Nation, CAREs & Boosters as being integral parts of the
foundation that helps to keep our fine castle together by promoting the West
Way.

Please join Mr. Peter Monaghan,
Principal, Glenbard West, and Dr. David Larson, Superintendent of Glenbard
District 87, as we kick off a new year of parent-school-student collaboration. Sign-ups
for committee opportunities will be available to parents.

We are excited to welcome Andy
Duran, Executive Director of LEAD as our guest speaker.

Andy Duran has served as the
Executive Director of both LEAD* and the SpeakUP! Prevention Coalition since
May 2012. Andy is passionate about youth. Equipped with years of
experience working with youth and a new approach to drug prevention,
Andy hopes to successfully position LEAD to make a positive impact on the
behavior of youth in the community. Andy hopes that, under his direction,
LEAD will develop into a model that other organizations across the country
can follow. Please feel free to peruse their website at http://www.leadingefforts.org/

* LEAD™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization dedicated to parents and other adults and their role in the
promotion of healthy family relationships and the prevention of alcohol, drug
use, and other risky behavior by youth. LEAD has served the Lake Forest,
Lake Bluff and Knollwood, IL communities (population 30,000) for over 25 years.

LEAD also manages and operates the Speak
UP! Prevention Coalition.
Speak UP! is a grassroots community anti-drug coalition formed in 2006 to
significantly reduce the levels of alcohol and drug use by youth in Lake
Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood. The coalition is funded in part by a
federal Drug Free Communities grant and has volunteer members from all
sectors of the community. Speak UP! is specifically focused on reducing
alcohol, marijuana, and prescription/over-the-counter drug use by youth and has
established logic models and detailed strategic action plans to do so.

2018-2019 Schedule

2018-2019 Event Schedule

GPS

Our Mission

The Glenbard Parent Series engages top experts, parents, and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal to strengthen our communities. High school and middle school parents and students, along with educators are encouraged to attend. Programs are free and open to the public.